- Sudden paralyzing pain & weakness in the arm in young athletes with GHJ instability
- Transient subluxation in elevation & external rotation
Classification
- Two categories
- Aware of subluxation
- Unaware of subluxation
- Often misdiagnosed as other shoulder pathology or cervical lesion
Associations
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- 30% of patients had coexistent TOS
- Due to altered kinetics of the Scapulothoracic Joint
- Resultant neurovascular compromise
Clinical
- History of trauma
- Positive Apprehension Test
- 64% Bankartlesion
- thoracic outlet syndrome
- transient radial pulse obliteration In shoulder external rotation & abduction
Management
- surgical stabilisation
- advanced cases may require surgical NV decompression
Reviewed by Professor Phong Tran, Head of Orthopaedic Surgery, Western Health. Last updated 10 October 2026.